'Our hearts are open' Tusk sparks anger as he pleads with Britain to CANCEL Brexit

TOP Eurocrat Donald Tusk provoked anger today by pleading with Britain to have a "change of heart" and stay in the EU.
In a speech to MEPs, the EU Council President admitted Brussels would welcome Brexit being cancelled.

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Mr Tusk's remarks came in a speech to a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The EU Council President said: "If the UK Government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality - with all its negative consequences - in March next year unless there is a change of heart among our British friends.

"Wasn't it David Davis himself who said 'If a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy'?"

Mr Tusk insisted that the EU had not had a "change of heart" over Brexit, telling the British: "Our hearts are still open for you."

Looking forward to the next round of Brexit talks due to begin in Brussels soon, Mr Tusk said: "The hardest work is still ahead of us and time is limited.

"We must maintain the unity of the EU27 in every scenario, and personally I have no doubt that we will."

Wasn't it David Davis himself who said 'If a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy'?

Donald Tusk

His remarks follow the leak of a European Commission document signalling EU negotiators are planning to toughen their stance on details of Britain's transitional relationship with the bloc after formally leaving in March next year.

The paper said the EU team will demand continuing full free movement rights for EU citizens to come to Britain during the transition period of up to two years.

Mr Tusk also attempted to raise the pressure on the British negotiating team by calling for more "clarity" about the Government's aim for the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker later backed Mr Tusk's speech, saying he hoped the message "will be heard clearly in London".

Nigel Farage accused the Eurocrats of colluding with Remain supporters at Westminster to try to force a Brexit re-think.

EPA

Nigel Farage listens to a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

The Ukip MEP Nigel Farage said: "The British political class are colluding with the European Commission to make an unbearable deal in an attempt to reverse the democratic decision of the British people. Don't be conned."

Richard Tice, co-chairman of the Brexit-backing pressure group Leave Means Leave, said: "Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker need to accept that Britain is a democracy - something the EU knows very little about.

"The British people voted to leave the EU and this decision will not be reversed, despite their best efforts."

And Gisela Stuart, a former Labour MP and chairman of the Euro-sceptic pressure group Change Britain, said: "Brussels has always struggled with a democratic deficit, therefore it's unsurprising that Eurocrats still refuse to accept the vote to leave the EU.

"Instead of crossing their fingers and hoping Brits will change their minds, EU leaders should focus on securing a Brexit deal which benefits individuals and businesses across the UK and Europe."